Emer Cooke, the World Health Organization’s director of regulation for medicines, is taking up a new role as executive director of the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

Cooke formerly served in the European Commission’s pharmaceutical unit and she has also previously worked in the pharmaceutical industry and in Ireland’s drug authority, as well as with the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations.

The EMA’s outgoing head, Guido Rasi, whose term ended Nov. 15, welcomed Cooke as “a strong leader who is committed to steering EMA during this very challenging period.”